The Borgward brand has a long tradition, but one that stopped over 50 years ago, so if you're still waiting for your grandchildren to be born, the name itself might not mean anything to you.
Speaking of grandchildren, the grandson of the company's founder (Carl F. W. Borgward), Christian Borgward, is currently in the midst of a reviving process together with the Chinese company Foton Motor. The project dates as back as 2008, but an official model has only been shown this month at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
Going by the name of Borgward BX7, the German/Chinese SUV looks like a medley of current models from different manufacturers, but that isn't to say it has bad design. It's just lacking in the personality department a little, which is an important problem for a low-volume brand such as Borgward.
However, the BX7 has been built from the ground up, which fully deserves our respect. It comes with a four-cylinder 2.0-liter turbo engine with unknown origins but very well known power output: 224 hp and 300 Nm (222 lb-ft) of torque. The SUV shape is honored by a four-wheel drive system working together with a dual-clutch gearbox.
The first video doesn't reveal much about the inside, but we've seen the car at the Frankfurt Motor Show and can confirm it's got a nicely finished interior. It comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display that will house most of the car's controls and features, together with a smaller display fitted inside the instrument cluster. The Borgward BX7 will use analogic dials and will offer seating for up to seven people.
Later on, a hybrid version will be on offer using the same 2.0-liter turbo engine in conjunction with an electric motor. Total output would jump to 401 hp with the battery pack able to offer a 34-mile (55 km) electric-only range.
With a starting price of around €26,000 ($29,350), we shouldn't expect any form of luxury from Borgward, but that doesn't mean we couldn't be in for more than expected. Whatever the case, we're going to have to wait a little since the car will first be launched in China, and then find its way over to Europe. There's no word yet of any intention to cross the Atlantic, though.
These are the first official videos released by Borgward, so have a look and decide for yourself if the resurrected German brand is anything to get excited about.
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